Apparatus for separating oil emulsion



Oct. 28, 1952 E. R. WILLIAMS 2,615,523

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING OIL EMULSION Filed Sept. 20, 1948 I I 2$HEETSSHEET 1 5 E I INVENZOR. E/mer 1Q W/flmms @iTTORW/E H Oct. 28, 1952E. R. WILLIAMS APPARATUS FOR S EPARATING OIL EMULSION Filed Sept. 20,1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 EH m IN V EN TOR.

5. .m M m m 5 Patented Oct. 28, 1952 UNITED .OFFlCE APPARATUS FORSEPARATING OIL EMULSION Elmer R. Williams, Tulsa, Okla., assignor toForrest Lee Murdock, Sr., Tulsa, Okla.

Application September 20, 1948, Serial No. 50,138

4 Claims. (Cl. 1832.7)

This invention relates to the treatment of petroleum as the sameemanates from the oil well and has to do broadly with apparatus fordehydrating such petroleum and with the method of such dehydration priorto ultimate direction thereof to a point of use, storage or furthertreatment.

The most important object of this invention is the provision of adehydrator for petroleum in the nature of that disclosed in myco-pending application entit1edMethod and Apparatus for TreatingEmulsion Emanating from Natural Oil Wells, Serial No. 46,496, filedAugust 2'7, 1948, this being a continuation in part of said co-pendingapplication.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of apetroleum dehydrator and method of dehydrating low grade crude oil anddiffering therefore from the disclosure of the aforesaid co-pendingapplication inasmuch as the latter was designed to remove water from ahigher grade of oil and accordingly not capable of handling the heavycrudes in the efflcient manner as the apparatus and method forming thesubject matter hereof.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a treater forpetroleum having means for removing all gas in the petroleum as the sameis subjected to a heated bath treatment to cause separation of suchwater and to re-directsuch gases into the petroleum after virtually allwater has been removed therefrom to the end that a final step isprovided for separating gas, oil and water in a specially formedcombination separator and mist extractor.

A further important object of this invention is the provision ofapparatus for dehydrating petroleum having a specially formed separatoras a part thereof and adapted to separate gas,

oil and the remaining water therein as a final step in the process andafter virtually all of the water has been removed from the emulsion.

Other objects of this invention relate to specially formed structure forpositively effecting water separation; apparatus so arranged anddisposed as to assure complete removal of gases within the petroleumwhereby to encourage water separation; arrangement of parts permittingutilization of a single furnace throughout the initialdehydrating-steps; the provision of structure for automatically'syphoning water from all of the compartments of the assembly andmaintaining a predetermined level of water therein; and interconnectionand arrangement of parts permitting inherent pressurewithin the systemto convey the resultant separated water,

gas and oil to a point of use or storage.

Other objects of this invention will be made clear and understandable asthe following specification progresses, reference being had to theaccompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a substantially'central, vertical crosssectional view throughsubstantially the uppermost half of apparatus for removing water frompetroleum made in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 1a is a vertical cross sectional view similar to Fig. 1 showing thelowermost half of the apparatusshown in Fig. 1.

. Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view" taken on line IIII of Fig. 1,looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, transverse cross sectional view taken on lineIII'III of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a transverse cross sectional view taken on line IV-IV of Fig.1a; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, transverse, cross sectional view taken on lineV--V"of Fig. 1a.

The apparatus shown in the drawings for dehydrating petroleum includesan elongated, hollow,'upright drum or closed drum or shell broadlydesignated by the numeral l0 having a top .wall I2, a bottom wall l4 andbeing circular in cross section as indicated by Figs. 3 and 4. 30'

rigidly mounted in any suitable conventional manner. g

A tank l8 extends upwardly from wall 12 of shell I!) and issecureddirectly thereto; 5 An opening 20 formed in the tank [8 intermediate theends thereof, has connection with a pipe 22 for conveying the emulsiontobe dehydrated from its source (not shown). The emulsion entering thetank l8 underpressure, flows downwardly by force of gravity intoa'conduit Zlthat registers at its uppermostend with an opening 26 formedin wall l2 within tank l8. The conduit 24 extends downwardly within.shell [0 and terminates at its lowermost open end adjacent the bottomwall I 4 of shell- In as indicated'in Fig. la. The emulsion that isdirected through pipe 22 into shell [0 is broadly designated by thenumeral 28.

Shell I0 is divided off by partitions into a plurality of compartmentsdesignated by the numerals 30, 32 and 34. A vertical partition 36extendingentirely across shell H), as indicated in,

Fig.3 of the drawings, and welded or otherwise 3 affixed to the innerface of shell HI, has its uppermost edge directly secured to theinnermost face of wall I2. Compartment 34 terminates at its lowermostend on a substantially medial, horizontal axis through shell l and iscompletely closed by an angularly disposed wall 38, the latter of whichhas its side edges and bottom edge rigidly fixed to shell l0. Asindicated in Fig. l of the drawings, wall 38 projects inwardly from thevertical partition 36 into the compartment 30 and has an up-turnedflange 40 on its uppermost and innermost end that also extends entirelyacross shell I 0 in the same manner as par-,-

tition 36 and wall 38 itself, all for purposes here inafter more fullydescribed.

The compartment 32 is set off from compartment 3!! by a verticalpartition 42 that extends sion 54 is maintained at a level within thecompartment 32 below the edge 46 of partition 42 by means of an outletopening Gil formed in the partition 35 and communicating withcompartment 32 at its lowermost end, all to the end that a relativelylong overflow is presented for the emulsion 55 whereby to encourageseparation of gases 5T therefrom.

' wardly within the compartments l terminating at its lowermost open endin spaced relationship i above the inclined bottom wall 38 ofcompartentirely across shell is as shown in Fig. 3 by a horizontal floor34 that interconnects the lower edge of partition 32 and the proximalface of partition 36. This entire compartment 32 is disposed near thetop of shell l0 and the uppermost horizontal edge 48 of partition 42 isspaced below wall 12 of shell 15. Accordingly, the compartment 3&3 is indirect communication with compartment 32 at the uppermost end of shellHi.

The diameter of compartment 30 below wall 38 is accordingly the diameterof shell i0 and it is in this compartment that the conduit 25 isdisposed.

The quantity of water 48 is maintained at level 50 in compartment 30 bymeans hereinafter set forth, this level 50 being disposed above bottomwall 38 and below the wall 44 of compartments 34 and 32'respectively asindicated in Fig. 1 0f the drawings.

The emulsion 28 that is fed into the compartment 30 by conduit 24 willautomatically rise in compartment 30 and bubble upwardly through thewater 48;

A furnace, broadly designated by the numeral 52 "and having anelliptical cross sectional contour, as shown in Fig. 2'of. the drawings,is immersed within the water 48 below the level 59 thereof and above theup-turned flange 40 of inclined wall 38.- The rising emulsion 28 withinthe water 48 that is heated by furnace 52, impinges upon the outermostsurfaces of furnace 52 prior to reaching an areawithin compartment 30above the level of water 48 therein. As emul.

sion 28 receives the long bath through water 48, all free water withinsuch emulsion 28 will readily separate therefrom and admix with thewater 48 within compartment 30. As the petroleum that hasfreewat'er-removed therefrom, reaches the uppermost edge 46 of thevertical partition 42 the same will flow directly into the compartment32 as indicated in Fig.1. This petroleum with free water removedtherefrom is indicated by the numeral 54.

Prior to the bath treatment just described, free gases within theemulsion 28 must be removed in order to make possiblethe separation offree water within the compartment 30 and accordingly, such free gases 56will rise from the inlet within tanklfi and be collected thereby. By thesame token, as the emulsion 54 rises within the compartment 39,additional gases 5'! will emanate therefrom and pass from the shell itby way of a tube 58. This tube 58 interconnects wall l2 of shell in andthe uppermost end of the tank I8. By the'same token, gases 5'? that risefrom the overflowing emulsion 54 within the compartment 32 will rise andpass outwardly from shell in by Way of the tube 58. Theemulment 34. Aquantity of water 54 is maintained in the bottom of compartment 34 at alevel 55 spaced below the lowermost end of conduit 62 by structurehereinafter more fully described.

ihe furnace 52 includes a horizontal combustion chamber 68 having itsoutermost end disposed exteriorly of shell 18 and its innermost endconnecting directly with a chamber ill.

A horizontal chamber 12 having flues 14 therein communicates at itsinnermost end with the chamber 70 and at. its opposite end with stack76. An opening is provided in the vertical partition 35 for receivingfurnace 52 with the chamber 18 thereof entirely disposed within thecompartmenttt. A plurality of crossed conduits 18 are mounted within thechamber 70 of furnace 52 in the path of travel of flame 8D emanatingfrom gas heater 82, said conduits l8 communicating at both 'ends thereofwith the'compartment 34 as indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

Conduits 78 are disposed at alternating angles to the vertical and thelowermost ends thereof receive the emulsion 54 emanating from thelowermost end of conduit 62. Thus, this emulsion 54 rising within thecompartment 34 is heated by the conduits I8 and also by the exterior ofchamber '10 inasmuch as some of such emulsion 54 will impinge upon theoutermost surface of furnace 52. As the emulsion 54 is so heated andrises within compartment 34, virtually all remaining water therein willsettle in compartment 34 and co-mingle with water 64; The gases 56collected in the tank lbabove emulsion 28 therein from compartments '30and 32 are redirected into the compartment 34 by a tube 55 that passesdownwardly from'an open end at the top of tank 18 through walll2 andthence through partition 36 into an open lowermost end adjacent wall [2of shell 10. Such gases 56 will pass .into the emulsion within thecompartment 34 prior to flow thereof from such compartment 34.

An elongated pipe 84 disposed within the compartment 34 has its openuppermost end spaced above furnace 52 and below the wall I2 of shell If)and terminates at its lowermost end within a separator 86 mountedwithinthe compartment 30 of shell 10.

Separator 86 includes an elongated cylinder 88 (Figs. and 5) havingan'open bottom resting directly upon the wall I4 of shell I0 anddirectly secured thereto. The diameter of cylinder 88 is substantiallyless than the diameter of shell Ill and the height of the former issubstantially the same as the distance between wall [4 of shell I!) andthe lowermost end of inclined wall 38.

Pipe 84 passes downwardly through wall 38 as shown in Fig. 1a andcommunicates with the cylinder 88 intermediate the ends of the latter. Ahorizontal partition 90 divides cylinder 88 into an upper and a lowerchamber 92 and 94 respectively, the chamber 92 having a mist ex- '5tractor 88 disposed 'near the uppermost end thereof. A

Mist extractor 96 includes a cup-like housing 98 closed at its uppermostend by attachment directly to the top'of cylinder 88 and having a plu-I06 for emptying into separator 88 above partition 90. The gases arefree to enter a conduit I08 disposed coaxially in mist extractor 86 andseparator 88 and passing exteri'orly ofshell I to join with a valveassembly IIO.

A pipe II2 connecting mist extractor 96 with burner 82 supplies fuel forflame 80 and is provided with a control shut-off valve H4. The oilemanating from pipe 84 and dumping in a relatively long over-flow uponpartition 90 of separator 86, flows freely into chamber 94 of separator86 by a tube II6 that circumscribes the downpipe I08 and extends adistance into; both chambers 92 and 94. A quantity of water II8ismaintained in the chamber 94 of separator 86 at a level below thelowermost end oftube H6 and such additional water as might remain in thepetroleum entering separator 86 will settle into water II8. By the sametoken, any gases that 'might remain in the petroleum after the sameenters chamber 94, are exhausted by a short pipe I20 placing theuppermost end of chamber 94 into communication with chamber 92 above thelevel of emulsion in the latter. The finished oil product completelydehydrated and exhausted of gases therein overflows from the chamber 94into an outlet pipe I 22 that has its uppermost and innermost enddisposed immediately below the partition 90.

This outlet pipe I22 projects to a point exteriorly of the shell I0 andconnects with the valve assembly IIO. v

Internal and external siphoning means is .provided to maintain thevarious levels of water in compartments 30 and 34 and chamber 94. A

substantially L-shaped conduit I24 is vertically disposed within thechamber 30 with its uppermost end above the level of emulsion 54therein. This conduit I24 terminates adjacent the inclined wall 38 andthereabove with its short leg and opened lowermost end extending towardthe partition 36. I v

A second conduit I26 joins at its uppermost end with the conduit I24next adjacen't the wall 44 of compartment 32 and terminates within thecompartment 34 above the inclined wall38 and immediately below thelowermost end of conduit 62. It is thus seen that when the level ofwater 48 within the compartment 30 rises above the line 50 as determinedby the relative head of emulsion 54, water 48 will empty intocompartment 34 by way of conduits I'2-4 and I26 as indicated by arrowsin Fig. 1. It is also apparent that gas pressure within the uppermostends of compartments 30 and 32 is free to enter the uppermost end of theconduit I24 'and'acjcordingly, exert a pressure against'the level ofwater within conduit I24. Thus, the extent of influence of the head ofemulsion 54 to cause outflow of water 48 from conduit I24 to 'conduitI26 is varied somewhat in accordance with-the "extent of gas pressurewithin the" uppermost end of conduit I24.

'I34 connects at its uppermost end directly with the tank I8 at theuppermost end of the latter by means of a pipe I36. Outward flow ofwater '64 from compartment 34 is accordingly governed by the extentofgas pressure entering the tank I34 from tank I8 via pipe'l36. Adjustmentis made by the reciprocable pipe I 32 and the outfiowing water enteringthe tank I34 passes into a downpipe I38 that communicates'with thelowermost end'of tank I34 and with a horizontal line I40. Line I40registers through wall I4 with the chamber 94 of separator 86 andaccordingly, the level of water II8 therein is regulated. by the head'ofwater within the downpipe I38.

" All of such evacuated water is conveyed' under pressure to a point ofdischarge by way of valve structure I42.

Precise construction and operation of value structure I42 forms no partof this invention but for purposes of explanation, the same is providedwith a horizontally reciprocable valve controlled by a diaphragm. A pipeI44 connects with valve structure I42 on one'side of the diaphragm andwith the outlet pipe I08 for gases emanating from mist extractor 96. Thepressure of such gases formally maintains the valve of assembly I42 in aclosed position. When the head of water within the downpipe I38 actingupon the diaphragm of assembly I42 overcomes the pressure within pipeI44, the valve within assembly I42 opens to permit flow of the waterthrough branch I46 and thence through the assembly I42 to a point ofdischarge under'pressure by way of outlet pipe I48. Obviously, waterflows from the chamber 94 through branch I46 by way of horizontal pipe.I40 and downpipe I38. The system may be drained by an outlet pipe I50having a valve I52 therein and connecting-di rectly with the horizontalpipe I40;

- It is thus'seen that the conveyance of water that is dehydratedfrom-the emulsion originally introduced by way of pipe 22 to a point ofdischarge (not shown) is controlled by the inherent pressure of theentire system through use ofthe gases present not only in the tank I8but discharging from separator 86 by way of-pipe I08.

The finished oil product that enters the valve assembly H0 is alsoconveyed under pressure by the same'system. Here again, valve structure.I I0 forms no part'of this invention but is so constructed to directthe oilvfrom the valve IIO at I54 and to discharge the gases removedfrom the emulsion at an opening formed in the valve housing at I56. Itis to be understood that the openings I54 and I56 formed-in. the valve II0 have connection with suitable conduits not herein shown. Areciprocable valve within the assembly H0 is normally biased towardtheclosed position by the pressure of gases within the [outlet pipe I08acting upon thefdiaphragm control for such reciprocable valve. The headof liquid oil discharging through pipe I22 into the-assembly I I0 actsupon such diaphragm to permit the outflow of such oil to a pointlof useor storage.

Assuming the component parts of the apparatus to be formedand assembledas above deg7 "scribed,- the operation-thereof and the method oftreating emulified petroleum, can be summarized as follows: i Thepetroleum emanating from the natural oil well having water emulsifiedtherein is directed into the shell If! by way of pipe 22 and tank It.'Free gas will risefrom such emulsionwithin tank I 8 and be directedinto the compartment 34 by way of conduit 65. Such gas in tank l8'isalso used to control the watersiphoning means including tanks l28-andI34. The emulsion with free gas removed is directed into the water 48 ofcompartment 39 at the bottom thereof by condui-t 24. This emulsionthence bubbles upwardly through thewater 48 and is given a relatively.long bath as it'impinges upon the entire outermost surface of that partof furnace '2 that is immersed within water 48. Since free. gas has beenremoved from the emulsion, such heating thereof within water 48 willreadily cause separation of all free water within the petroleum.Additional gas is removed from the oil product at the top of chambers 30and 32,'-which gas reaches tank l8 byway of tube 58 for-ultimatedirection into compartment 34. token, gas emanating from the long flowof emulsion over the partition 52 passes into tanklS by way of tube 58.After the free water has been removed from the petroleum, as well asvirtually all gases therein, the petroleum is subjected to anotherheating process to remove substantially -all'of the water that did notoriginally discharge into the compartmentSO.

Eifective means is provided for this last mentioned heating process inthe conduits 18 forming a part of furnace 52. It is to be noted that thepetroleum rising in the-compartment 34 not only passes through theconduits 18 but is free to impinge upon the outermost surface of chamberof furnace 52. I

Accordingly, in this last mentioned step, water is separated from thepetroleum for settling into the water 64'maintained in compartment 34.Once the petroleum has been dehydrated, the original gases thereincontained, can be again directed into the petroleum andsuch is done inthe next step of the process.

The petroleum and all gases within the uppermost end of compartment "34enter the downcomer 84 and pass into the separator 86 within the bottomof shell [0. The separator 86; being submerged in the cold incomingemulsion 28, serves not only its purpose as a separator, but operatesalso as a condenser'and a settling container. As the gases and thepetroleum enter separator '86, a centripetal motion thereof takes placeand as they scrub around the outside wallo'f separator 86, the moisture,some water and s'ome hydrocarbons mix with oil in chamber 92. Re-"m'aining dry gas'es'that do not condense pass into valve assembly II Ofor ultimate direction to a point of use. r

' The separator 86 within the bottom of the shell Ill therefore, servesa triple purpose. First, the gases and oil are separated within chamber92 and all oil within the rising gas bubbles is extracted by theapparatus 96 within'separatortfi. Some of this gas is utilized to firethe. furnace .52 and the remaining gas passes into the valve assembly U0to .control the rate. of. flowof the finished oil-product from theentire assembly 3 u Einally, the separator- 86 serves to settle out inchamber 94 the remaining water that might be y the same present in thoil-passin from-cham r St-to chamber 94.

Since gases bubbling upwardly through hot water carry therewith hotwater vapors, water outlet I40 is provided in the bottom of separator86. As the gases cool, the water vapors carried thereby will condenseback to liquid form and would otherwise be carried outwardly with theoil through outlet I22. -Accordingly, all such condensed water vaporsseparating from the gases in separator 86 are permitted to settle inchamber 94 rather than discharge with the oil through outlet-I22.

The internal water siphoning means 124 and 126 maintains a predeterminedlevel of water within compartment 30* and byextension of the wall 38 tounderlie the conduits|24 and I26, and

additionally with-the provision of the up-turned flange 40, the emulsionthatbubbles upwardly in water 48 will not enter the lowermost end of theLr-shaped conduit I24.. By the same token,.maintenance of level 66 ofwater 64 in compartment 34 below the lowermost end of downcomer $2prevents direct admixture of the emulsion 5t. emanating fromdowncomer B2and water 64.

. It is apparent from the foregoing that relatively heavy crudes having.a high water content can be effectively handled by the treater formingthe subject matter of this invention, and that the same can beeifectively and economically dehydrated prior, to ultimate storageand/cru The entire operation is automatic, economical and requires verylittle operator attention. Gases contained in the crude oil are utilizedto an ad- .vantage in firing the furnace 52 and furthermore, virtuallyall of such gases are saved for ultimate condensation into gasolineproducts as might be desired.

While only one embodiment of the present invention has been set forth,it is manifest that suchchanges. and modifications as fairly come withinthe scope of the appended claims, are contemplated hereby.

Having. thus described the invention, what is claimed as. new anddesired to be secured by Letters Patent is: f 1. In a petroleumdehydrator, an upright tank having a vertical compartment adapted tocontain a column of water; structure in the tank forming a verticalchamber; a heater in said waterand extending through said structure intothe chamber; a downcomerfor directing crude oil emulsion into the waterfor upward bubbling past said heater, said downcomer extending theentire length of said compartment within the heated water and emulsiontherein for pre-heat ing of the emulsion flowing in the downcomer; .avertical conduit for receiving emulsion from the compartment at theuppermost end of the latter and en ting the same into the chamber forupward bubbling past said heater, said con.- duit beingdisposed withintheemulsion in said chamber for heating of emulsion flowing in theconduit; and an outlet pipe disposed to receive oil from near theuppermost end of said chamber and extendingthrough the emulsion in thechamber for heating of the oil flowing in the pipe. 1 I

2, In a petroleum dehydrator asset forth in claim 1, wherein is provideda mist extractor in said column Of water and provided with oil i tletmean said e c mmuni ating with th mist extractor- 3. In. a pet oleumdehydrator a t t i claim 1, wher m is p vided. a settling drum withinsaid water having oil outlet means and a mist extractor therewithin,said pipe communieating with the drum.

4. In a petroleum dehydrator as set forth in claim 1, wherein saidheater is provided with a plurality of tubes communicating with thechamber for receiving upwardly moving emulsion in said chamber.

ELMERR. WILLIAMS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent: 1

5 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,167,160 Raymond July 25, 19392,342,950 Lovelady et a1. Feb. 29, 1944 2,384,222 Walker Sept. 14, 194510 2,388,796 Mount Nov. 13, 1945 Candler et a1 Oct. 31, 1950

